History of Honda Part 2

The CT70 was Honda's biggest seller for a single year, with nearly 100,000 CT70s sold in 1970 alone.

Around the mid '70s Honda produced a two-stroke moped known as the Amigo. It was cheaper to manufacture than the four-stroke bikes and started a whole new generation of lightweight Honda two-stroke mopeds.

In February 1970 Honda jumped into the three-wheel off-road market with the introduction of the ATC90, Honda once again reached out to new consumers by inventing a whole new category, the ATV or "All-Terrain Vehicle".

After years of winning in Europe, Honda's CB750-based Race bike won there first big event in the U.S., serving Notice that Honda was going to be a dominant force on tracks all across America.

In April 1971 Honda introduced the 500CC four and in 1974 It was replaced by a 550cc version.

In the 1970s 250 and 350CC motorcycles were constantly being modified to keep pace with the other manufacturers and fashions. Both were given disc brakes and the 350s were eventually upgraded to 360cc.

In April 1972 the CB350F was introduced, a beautiful 350CC SOHC four.

In 1970 Honda entered the off-road market with the two-stroke motocross bike, the Elsinore.

And later in 1973 with trail versions, known as the MT125 and MT250.

Late in 1970 Honda introduced a "semi-serious", four-stroke trail bike, the SL125 four-stroke single in Japan, and followed with the more serious SL250 in 1972. The SL250 had long travel suspension, lots of ground clearance and performed well both on and off road.

Honda produced XL versions of both bikes in 1973 with improved off-road performance.

1973 was also the year that Honda entered into motocross with a revolutionary two-stroke, winning right from the start. Honda's been a dominant force ever since, winning more than 70 titles.

Up to now, off-road bikes were just modified street bikes. The XR75 was Honda's first XR, a true off-road motorcycle right off the production line.

In 1974, after several years of selling B75 and B45 outboards, Honda dedicated itself to being the technological leader not only on land, but also on water.

In 1975 Honda again dared to think big, creating the first long-distance touring machine, the GL1000 Gold Wing, a sophisticated, water-cooled, flat four. In the process, Honda didn't just create a new motorcycle; they created a whole new touring culture. Here was a touring bike that set the standards of comfort and sophistication. It had a shaft-drive, disc brakes and to keep the weight low a 4.8-gallon gas tank under the seat.

Also the original CB400F introduced the world to cafe-bike styling on a modern production machine. Its graceful four-into-one exhaust made it an instant classic, and while it looks mild today, in its time it was a radical departure from the standard models.

In 1976 yet another technical innovation from Honda, the CB750A was the first modern motorcycle with an automatic transmission.

In 1977 Honda announced the completely new and re-styled CR250 and CR400 twins with three-valve per cylinder heads to replace the aging 250 and 400 twins.

Also that year Honda pushed the envelope not only in motorcycle design, but also in alternative product concepts, like the three-wheel scooter and the one-man dune buggy.

In 1979 brings in the first full-scale Japanese motor-vehicle production facility on U.S. soil.

Also that year The CBX. Powered by an incredible 1047cc, 6-cylinder engine, the CBX harks back to Hailwood's RC166 that won the Isle of Man.

Debuting in 1979 Honda's NR500 race bike, oval pistons eventually found their way into production in Honda's exotic NR750.

1981
Honda's first two-stroke ATV, transforming a fun utilitarian vehicle into a high-performance machine.

1982
Conquering yet another sophisticated technological challenge, Honda introduced the industry's first production turbocharged motorcycle.

1983
Perhaps the biggest single leap in the sportbike industry, the Interceptor instantly elevated the level of both technology and performance available in a production motorcycle.

Honda's first "traditional" V-twin custom motorcycle, the Shadow combined modern features like liquid cooling and shaft drive with a classic look and style, and helped build the modern custom market for Honda.

Unlike other customs, this one was built for performance, reigning as the most awesome production motorcycle of its day. Together with the Interceptor, the Magna showed the explosion of technology from Honda.

Honda made riding scooters cool, creating edgy advertising with hip celebrities like Grace Jones. This marketing blitz paid off and scooter sales soared.1984

Riding the wave of demand for scooters created by Honda, the Spree became the best-selling scooter of all time.

Honda Research of America was established in September 1984. This think tank was created specifically to develop new products for the American market and to keep Honda on the cutting edge.

1985
Unbelievably, Spencer won Grand Prix World Championship titles in both the 250 and 500cc classes in the same year. This feat had never been done before, and hasn't been done since.

1986
Honda led the way by creating the first Japanese luxury car.

1987
With the introduction of the Hurricane in 1987, Honda began an 11-year domination of the 600 Supersport class, with five championships on the track, and dozens of enthusiast-press best-bike awards.

1989
Soichiro Honda was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame (USA) in October 1989. The "Old Man," as he's affectionately known, received worldwide recognition for his enormous accomplishments and contributions.

1996
By combining a hot-rod Gold Wing engine in a custom chassis, Honda again defied conventional limitations, and the Valkyrie clearly established itself as the ultimate power cruiser.

1997
Using a surprisingly stock GL1500 motorcycle engine, Kenny Lyon broke a land-speed class record. He hit 232.4 miles per hour at the Bonneville Salt Flats aboard his 33-inch-high, 24-foot-long bullet-shaped bike.

The first production of aluminum-framed MX bikes. Once again, Honda pushed the technological envelope.

1998
We have indeed traveled a long road since Mr. Honda began to chase his dream 50 years ago. Which may leave you to wonder--what of the next 50?Where will they take us?

There is one thing of which you can be certain: Honda will continue to stand for what has made the company special and successful.

Our racing teams will still be the force to be reckoned with around the world. We'll constantly push the technological envelope, ensuring that radical ideas you can only begin to imagine today will find their way to the showroom tomorrow. And Honda will build revolutionary new machines that capture the imaginations and the hearts of new riders.

And most of all, you can be certain that our competitive fires will continue to burn. Keeping Honda at full throttle and leading the way into the next century.